Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined this historic bill, which is the first legislation in Australia to formally recognise Torres Strait Islander traditional child rearing practice (Ailan Kastom). The committee held public hearings across five locations including Townsville, Cairns, Bamaga, Thursday Island and Saibai Island, and unanimously recommended the bill be passed. While supporting the bill, the committee made five additional recommendations addressing education programs, Commissioner independence, birth certificate amendments, and criminal history information handling.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill over six weeks, receiving six submissions and holding public hearings with key stakeholders including the Queensland Human Rights Commission, Queensland Law Society, and Queenslanders with Disability Network. The committee unanimously recommended the bill be passed. Submissions were broadly supportive of the bill's objectives, though stakeholders raised concerns about privacy protections for screened workers, the complexity of requiring dual screening (disability worker screening and blue card) for those working with children with disability, and the potential impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in remote areas.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 and tabled Report No. 32 in February 2020. The committee recommended the bill be passed with amendments, particularly seeking greater clarity around the conversion therapy ban provisions. The committee received broad support from stakeholders including the Queensland Human Rights Commission, Queensland Nurses' and Midwives' Union, and the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, though it noted areas where the bill could be strengthened.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the Health Transparency Bill 2019 over six weeks, receiving 17 submissions and holding a public hearing. The committee recommended the bill be passed, finding widespread support for the transparency measures covering public and private health facilities and aged care. The committee made seven recommendations, including the establishment of an advisory committee of stakeholders and measures to avoid duplicating reporting burdens with Commonwealth requirements. LNP members filed a Statement of Reservation supporting the bill but questioning the evidence base for the 3.65-hour minimum daily care standard.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined this omnibus health bill over three months, receiving 42 submissions plus 82 form submissions and holding a public hearing on 24 January 2019. The committee recommended the bill be passed. While most amendments attracted broad support, the proposed changes to the Retirement Villages Act 1999 — requiring operators to buy back freehold units after 18 months — were contested by industry groups and prompted a Statement of Reservation from LNP members of the committee.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed. The committee also recommended the Minister advise Parliament on the scope and timing of an education program to help health practitioners understand the new mandatory reporting requirements. The government supported both recommendations and outlined plans for AHPRA to lead a comprehensive education campaign targeting registered health practitioners, professional bodies, and employers.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018 over approximately six weeks, receiving hundreds of submissions and holding public hearings in Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane, as well as travelling to Victoria to learn from that state's decade of experience with similar reforms. The committee recommended the bill be passed, treating termination of pregnancy as a health issue rather than a criminal matter. The committee also recommended a conscience vote (personal vote) for all members, given the sensitivity of the subject. Michael Berkman MP (Greens) filed a supporting statement calling for stronger safe access zone provisions and expanded public health system coverage of termination services.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill over approximately two months, receiving 16 submissions and holding a public hearing with five witnesses. The committee unanimously recommended the bill be passed, finding broad support from stakeholders including legal services, disability advocates, child protection organisations and care leaver groups. While submitters raised concerns about the $150,000 payment cap (below the Royal Commission's recommended $200,000), the exclusion of prisoners and those with serious criminal convictions, and limitations on review rights, the committee acknowledged these were matters of Commonwealth legislation that Queensland could not amend. Non-government members filed a statement of reservations raising additional issues from the Bar Association of Queensland's late submission.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill over seven weeks, receiving four submissions and holding public hearings with the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors and Age and Disability Advocacy Australia. Submitters were generally supportive of the bill's objectives and raised no concerns about specific clauses. The committee unanimously recommended the bill be passed, finding that its worker screening provisions were appropriate and that any impacts on individual rights and privacy were justified given the need to protect vulnerable people with disability.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the Hospital Foundations Bill 2018 over one month, building on the former committee's thorough review of the substantially identical 2017 Bill. The committee received two submissions and a written briefing from the Department of Health, and recommended the bill be passed. No dissenting views were recorded.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the Hospital Foundations Bill 2017 and recommended it be passed. The bill proposed a modernised legislative framework for Queensland's 13 hospital foundations, which collectively raised around $70 million annually for Hospital and Health Services. The committee sought clarification on provisions relating to Ministerial approval for business acquisitions and special financial arrangements. The bill ultimately lapsed when the 55th Parliament was dissolved.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined this bill, which proposed significant reforms to Queensland's child protection system under the Child Protection Act 1999. The committee recommended the bill be passed. The bill addressed timely decision-making for children in care, strengthened protections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and modernised information-sharing arrangements across the child protection system.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed. The committee received 37 submissions and held a public briefing and public hearing. The bill implements stage one of reforms to the national health practitioner regulation scheme, including bringing paramedics under national registration for the first time. While stakeholders raised concerns about the breadth of the new 'public interest' ground for immediate action against practitioners, the committee accepted the department's justification that stronger powers were needed to protect the public.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill over two months, receiving 36 submissions and holding a public hearing. The committee was unable to reach a majority decision as to whether the bill should be passed. Government members expressed disappointment at this outcome, noting the bill would establish an independent health promotion commission focused on children and families.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined this Private Member's Bill and recommended it not be passed. While acknowledging the bill aimed to address affordability concerns for medicinal cannabis patients, the committee found that legislation was not the appropriate mechanism for requiring the Minister to negotiate with the Commonwealth on pricing. The committee noted recent developments at both state and federal levels that were already addressing affordability, including the Commonwealth's decision to allow bulk importation and the early stages of domestic cultivation.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill, which strengthens infection control regulation at health care facilities. The committee recommended the bill be passed, while raising concerns about compliance verification for improvement and directions notices, and the absence of a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) review pathway for operators. The Government supported all three committee recommendations.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined this private member's bill introduced by Mr Rob Pyne MP over ten months alongside a related earlier bill. The committee was unable to reach agreement on whether the bill should be passed. The bill sought to reform abortion law by amending the Health Act 1937 rather than directly amending the Criminal Code, addressing who may perform abortions, gestational limits, conscientious objection, and safe access zones around abortion facilities.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the Mental Health Amendment Bill 2016, which sought to protect people undergoing mental health assessments from self-incrimination and to make technical amendments ahead of the Mental Health Act 2016 commencing. The committee received submissions from organisations including Legal Aid Queensland, the Australian Medical Association Queensland, and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and held a public hearing. Government members supported passage, but the committee was unable to reach a majority decision on whether the bill should be passed.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined this bill to modernise Queensland's adoption framework, including broadening eligibility to same-sex couples and single persons, improving access to adoption information, and removing the offence for breaching contact statements. The committee was unable to reach a majority decision on whether the bill should be passed. Government members supported the amendments, while non-government members did not support a recommendation for passage, primarily over concerns about same-sex couple eligibility.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2016 and recommended it be passed. The committee made three recommendations, including removing criminal history check provisions from the bill and prioritising investigation of options for cultivating and manufacturing medicinal cannabis in Queensland. The government supported all three recommendations.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill over seven weeks, receiving 20 submissions and holding public hearings. The committee recommended the bill be passed, noting broad stakeholder support for the reforms implementing outstanding recommendations from the Not Now, Not Ever Taskforce. The committee also recommended a minor drafting correction to clause 63. Non-government members filed a Statement of Reservation raising concerns about the adequacy of court and police resourcing to handle the expected increase in applications.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined this Private Member's Bill alongside a broader inquiry into laws governing termination of pregnancy in Queensland. The committee received over 1,400 submissions and held public hearings in Brisbane, Emerald and Cairns. The committee unanimously recommended the bill not be passed, finding it failed to address important policy issues including late-term abortion regulation, conscientious objection, and protests outside abortion facilities, and did not achieve a number of its own stated objectives.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill, which sought to extend mandatory reporting obligations to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. The committee recommended the bill be passed subject to amending the commencement date from 1 January 2017 to 1 July 2017, to allow time for policy development, staff training and sector preparation. While the committee agreed that mandatory reporting should be expanded to the ECEC sector, government and non-government members were unable to agree on which individuals within the sector should be captured by the mandatory reporting provisions.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed with nine additional recommendations. The bill establishes the Director of Child Protection Litigation as an independent statutory officer to improve accountability and evidence quality in child protection court proceedings, implementing a key recommendation from the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry. The government accepted some recommendations, including amending the review period from five to three years, but rejected proposals to reduce the DCPL's term of office and to separately publish operational guidelines.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed. The bill implements 10 court-related recommendations from the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry and establishes the Office of the Child and Family Official Solicitor. The committee made four recommendations, including that the Minister consider removing the word 'significantly' from proposed section 51VA and address concerns raised by the Bar Association of Queensland.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill over several months, holding public hearings in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Gladstone, and travelling to Perth and Melbourne to examine comparable provisions. The committee was unable to reach agreement on whether to recommend the bill be passed. Government members strongly supported the bill, citing extensive international research linking safe nurse-to-patient ratios with improved patient outcomes. Non-government members did not support the bill in its current form, questioning the evidence base for a fixed minimum ratio.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed with two additional recommendations. The bill amended Queensland's disability services legislation to support the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), including re-introducing investigation and enforcement powers into the Disability Services Act and enabling information sharing between departments to monitor Queensland's NDIS funding contribution. The Queensland Government accepted all three recommendations.

The Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill over approximately three months, tabling its report in February 2016. The committee recommended the bill be passed, noting widespread support for its objectives of establishing a legislative framework to recognise multiculturalism in Queensland. The committee also recommended that the Department work with the new Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council to ensure the views of diverse communities in regional and rural locations are sought and considered.

The Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill, which implements recommendations from the Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland. The committee recommended the bill be passed but suggested omitting clause 4 (a new principle about seeking victims' views and wishes), which the government did not accept. The committee also made recommendations about cross application procedures in Magistrates Courts and police body-worn camera training.

The Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the Family Responsibilities Commission Amendment Bill 2015 and recommended it be passed with four additional recommendations. The committee focused on ensuring adequate domestic and family violence support services in welfare reform communities, monitoring of agency notices from courts, and clarifying delegation of Commissioner functions. The Queensland Government supported all five recommendations.

The Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill over approximately 11 weeks, receiving two submissions. The committee recommended the bill be passed, finding broad stakeholder support for the reforms which streamline administrative processes, recognise alternative handlers, and improve enforcement provisions under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009.

The Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill over approximately three weeks, reporting on 9 October 2015. The committee recommended the bill be passed, while also making three additional recommendations relating to monitoring the effectiveness of increased penalties for breaching domestic violence orders, auditing court facilities for special witness accommodation, and clarifying protections for victims during non-evidentiary court proceedings. The Queensland Government noted all recommendations.

The Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee examined the bill, which establishes a Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board within the coronial system. The committee recommended the bill be passed unanimously. It also recommended that definitions of domestic and family violence be reviewed for inclusiveness, that the distinct roles of the Death Review Unit and the new Board be clearly communicated to stakeholders, and that the Board's research and reports be made widely available.